Page 30 of Protecting Mr. Fine

“Why White Plains?” Zane asked when the pilot mentioned our destination.

“I didn’t want anyone in Barlo to know we were changing our plans to go to New York, but I didn’t want to land at Teterboro since that’s where we’re expected.”

“Okay.” Zane accepted this easily, and as it always did, the trust he placed in me soothed something deep in my chest. “Where are we going after that?” he asked, snuggling under the soft blanket he often used on flights.

“Northern Europe.” I showed him a photo of the fjord in Norway where a small luxury home had stunning views of the water. Zane was a sucker for an inspirational view. Hopefully, he could distract himself with songwriting while I worked remotely to make sure the European stops were adequately protected.

His eyes widened, and I felt his body relax. “Gorgeous.”

Within moments, he was asleep in the wide leather chair next tomine. I opened up my laptop and connected to the plane’s Wi-Fi so I could get to work.

Halfway to New York, Zane’s head had slid over to the side. I shifted in my seat so that when his head slid farther, it would land on my shoulder. It took an excruciating several minutes before the warmth of him landed on me, and the faint scent of his hair wafted into my nose.

I let out a breath and felt some of my tension fall away. As long as I was touching Zane Hendley, I could relax a little.

Because Zane was okay…

And finally right where he was supposed to be.

NINE

ZANE

Bears don’t take betrayal lightly. They have an uncanny sense of loyalty, and if you cross them, you’re done. In the wild, respect is a two-way street, honey is earned, not stolen, and a bear will make sure a betrayer doesn’t stick around for long. Mess with the honey and you’ll feel the claws.

—Bear Facts for Insomniacs, Episode 34

The string of flights from Barlo, Georgia, to Ørsta, Norway, was long, but the more distance we put between the site of the stamping incident and myself, the more relaxed I became.

Bear was right. I would have been a nervous wreck if we’d continued on to New York as planned, knowing there was someone out there trying to prove they could get to me.

By the time we pulled through the gates to the secluded property Bear had rented, I was ready to get outside and move my body.

“I’m going for a walk,” I said, inhaling the fresh cold air. “Is that okay? It looks like there’s a fence around the property.”

Bear and Lou exchanged a look I was very familiar with. Before they could tell me no, I added, “Let me be clear. I am going for a walk. If you’d like me to wait a few minutes or take one of you along, that’s fine. But I can’t spend another moment sitting down.”

Bear stretched his arms up and leaned his muscled torso from side to side, looking a little sleepy and disgruntled… exactly like the animal I’d named him for. His crumpled button-down shirt was half-untucked, and the motion exposed a glimpse of a furry happy trail leading down into royal blue underwear behind the low waistband of his jeans. My eyes locked onto the sight like a starving cub who’s just spotted a salmon.

“I’m very happy to take a walk,” he said. He dropped his arms, cutting off the stellar view of his happy trail, and I blinked and looked around. “Lou?”

“Nah.” Lou tilted her head toward the gatehouse we’d passed as we’d entered the property. Two men in dark trousers and sweaters had let us in while actively monitoring a bank of monitors showing security camera feeds. “I’m going to touch base with those guys and get settled in.”

On the plane, Bear had explained that he’d selected this property because of its built-in security staff. Apparently, it had been built originally by a minor Norwegian royal who’d upgraded to a newer place farther north. I couldn’t imagine an upgrade nicer than this.

The property was incredible, perched above a fjord with jaw-dropping views in every direction. The house itself sat on a peninsula. Its clapboard siding was painted red, set off by a dark roof. Giant windows looked out from three sides, and a large deck jutted out from the side facing the water, providing the perfect view of the mountain peaks across the fjord.

Behind the house was an open, grassy field leading to tree-covered hills I was eager to explore. I waited impatiently for Bear to tighten the laces on one of his shoes, and then we set off.

Within five minutes, I was already feeling more settled in my skin. The sky was a light, steely blue, and the silence around us wasbroken only by the sound of the wind through the trees and across the water. The leaves seemed to be in their peak autumnal splendor, and the air felt just shy of bracing. It was the kind of day I’d only seen in Hallmark movies growing up, when the air was cold enough to turn your nose and cheeks pink and fresh enough to brighten your eyes. The leaves floated on the wind in reds and oranges.

“You picked the right place,” I admitted. “How did you find it?”

“I came here once with King Asger and Prince Gerhard’s oldest son, Auden, years ago on a grandfather-grandson trip. Auden had been caught cheating in school, and Asger was convinced it was because he and Gerhard hadn’t been present enough in the boy’s life. The trip was his attempt to correct that.”

“Did it work?”

“Surprisingly, yes. They spent a lot of time talking about tradition and reputation, about the burden of being born into the royal family and the privileges that helped balance out the responsibilities. Asger was a good man, and that trip was one of the first times I got to see that part of him. Auden always looked up to his grandfather, but that trip really made an impact on him, too. He seemed to grow up a little and start to embrace his role. He began to emulate Asger and aspire to be just like him.”

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